DVD Review: Chuck - The Complete Second Season

Release Date: January 5th, 2010
Running Time: 1034 minutes

The Show

Zachary Levi stars as Chuck, a “Nerd Herd” tech guy at the Buy More shop. One day he gets an email that transmits all of America’s classified information into his head, making him a human computer called “the Intersect.” Chuck’s brain is the only copy of the files so he is assigned government protection in the form of Agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Stahovski) and Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin). Chuck soon finds himself balancing two lives: his Buy More existence with his best friend Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez), and his spy life with his handlers.

The first season introduced viewers to Chuck and his friends/family in his dual life. Season Two vastly expands the world and mythology. With a brand new Intersect on the verge of completion, which would make Chuck no longer valuable, the government begins to question Chuck’s importance and the use of their resources to protect him from the villainous group FULCRUM. Sarah’s past is also explored through flashbacks, and definite feelings begin to develop between her and Chuck. Some of the plots for the season include: Chuck going undercover to seduce a woman; Sarah’s 10 year high school reunion; Chuck reconnecting with a former girlfriend to gain access to her boss who may be developing bioweapons; Sarah’s con artist father swindling money from terrorists; and a Christmas Eve hostage situation at Buy More. The season comes to a close with things looking up for Chuck. He is about to land his dream job at Roark Instruments and has been spending quality time with his father. However, his father ends up kidnapped, leading to a potential confrontation with FULCRUM at Chuck’s sisters’ wedding.

In a time where there are scores of cop, legal, and action shows on television, it is truly rare to say that a show is unique. I can honestly say that there is nothing else like Chuck on television. The balancing act of comedy and action is played to perfection, giving the show a very enjoyable tone. However, the show could have easily degenerated and collapsed under the weight of its own concept. Instead Chuck’s two lives, the Buy More side and the spy side, are expertly intertwined. Both get equal time and are just as important to the character. Buy More isn’t simply a cover, it is part of Chuck. It is his escape; he needs it. With the second season fleshing out the characters and widening the mythology, the future is looking very bright for Chuck.

The six-disc set contains all 22 episodes from the second season: “Chuck Versus the First Date,” “Chuck Versus the Seduction,” “Chuck Versus the Break-Up,” “Chuck Versus the Cougars,” “Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer,” “Chuck Versus the Ex,” “Chuck Versus the Fat Lady,” “Chuck Versus the Gravitron,” “Chuck Versus the Sensei,” “Chuck Versus the Delorean,” “Chuck Versus Santa Claus,” “Chuck Versus the Third Dimension,” “Chuck Versus the Suburbs,” “Chuck Versus the Best Friend,” “Chuck Versus the Beefcake,” “Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon,” “Chuck Versus the Predator,” “Chuck Versus the Broken Heart,” “Chuck Versus the Dream Job,” “Chuck Versus the First Kill,” “Chuck Versus the Colonel,” and “Chuck Versus the Ring.”

The Discs

The video is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Colors are bold and natural without being oversaturated. Black levels are solid but the gradation and shadow detail could be improved. Detail in close ups is impressive for standard definition, but the depth of the image and background detail is nothing compared to an HD transfer. Many of the shots also show obvious signs of softness. Some print damage and compression artifacts further muddy the image. Is this a bad transfer? No, it just cannot compare to the lofty standards set by HD.

The audio is offered in an English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound mix and Portuguese Dolby Surround with English/French/Spanish/Chinese/Portuguese/Thai subtitles. The action sequences sound great, featuring solid sound design, natural panning effects, and directional effects that immerse you in the scene. Even in the Buy More moments realistic ambience is portrayed through the rear channels. Dialogue is consistently balanced as well. Though this isn’t a mix like one on 24, it is still very impressive considering the scale and tone of the show.

The Extras

The set is well-stocked with special features, including two pairs of 3-D glasses for the episode “Chuck Versus the Third Dimension”!

“Truth, Spies, and Regular Guys” is comprised of two, 10-minute featurettes with cast/crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. “The Secret Agents” looks as the interwoven character relationships in the season while “The Agents’ Secrets” focuses more on the spy plots and gear.

“Dude in Distress” (18 minutes) is an excellent segment on the show’s impressive stunts, action sequences, and special effects.

“Tips for Being Awesome” has Captain Awesome giving humorous advice on everything from first dates to choosing a nickname. Likewise, “John Casey Presents: So You Want to Be a Deadly Spy” is a collection of faux news footage with tips on being the ultimate spy.

5 Buy More employee training video webisodes (10 minutes) are offered as well.

Lastly, the set finishes with 40 Deleted/Extended/Alternate scenes (32 minutes) and a Gag Reel (8 minutes).

Final Thoughts

Chuck: The Complete Second Season isn’t the most technically impressive DVD set, but the fun special features will give fans plenty of reason to revisit the show. However, if you can spring for the Blu-ray set the HD upgrade is definitely worth it.